Nikola Mirotic Returns to Europe and Joins Barcelona After 5 NBA Seasons
By Parker White
The goal for most players from overseas is to reach the NBA and hope to stick. It's the top level of basketball in the world and it's a big deal to play over in the United States.
Well, for free agent forward Nikola Mirotic, he's decided to take his talents and sign with Euroleague club Barcelona after five NBA seasons.
NBA free agent Nikola Mirotic has decided to sign with Euroleague club Barcelona, sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium. Mirotic was in the market for $45-50M total in contract in the NBA.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 29, 2019
Mirotic is coming off another solid season and would've likely made out very well in free agency, as a handful of teams including the Dallas Mavericks and Utah Jazz were interested in his services.
In returning to Europe, Mirotic is walking away from a ton of money, as he was expected to be offered contracts in the $40-50 million range. It'll be interesting to see what he earns for Barca.
As reported earlier today in Spain, Barcelona has convinced Nikola Mirotic to walk away from the NBA and swap it for @EuroLeague basketball next season -- with Utah, Dallas and a handful of other teams eager to have made a run at Niko in free agency https://t.co/ej7AqFG6It
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) June 29, 2019
In 46 games between the New Orleans Pelicans and Milwaukee Bucks last season, Mirotic averaged 15.2 points and 7.4 rebounds on 43.9 percent shooting from the field and 36.5% shooting from behind the arc.
The former first-round pick came over from Montenegro and began his career with the Chicago Bulls in 2014, and is now headed back to Europe to continue his playing days.